1959 El Camino 348 Stroker

[alexm900]

Top of the dash is more of a satin finish to reduce glare, the dash facia is wet gloss ^



Got a good deal on some mint 60 dash trim, couldn't resist despite being the wrong year ^




Heater control had to be repaired ^



Also found a 59 clock and 59 radio to get rid of the ugly block off plates

 

[alexm900]

Started to rewire some electrics for the dash, here courtesy light for glove box, the glove box insert being a so so repro



Fixed up the broken horn, and horn ring assembly, repaired the cracked steering wheel, replaced some switches



Rewired the radio (only the night lights work) and the cigarette lighter



The clock was out of a 1959 Corvette if I recall, but it does not work, sculpted an aluminum pop rivet to replace the missing winder



Wired door jambs switches and replaced the vent triggers with impala switch knobs

 

[alexm900]

New repro rubber for the brake pedal and new rubber lined throttle pedal ^



Reconditioned 2 speed wiper motor, could not get the windscreen wiper wash fluid pump to work again ^



Reconditioned the rear light cups, and found a true El Camino light surround (previously a modified passenger car)
The four lenses are okay repro

 

[alexm900]

Fast forward to late 2014




With painted white roof (Snowcrest White to contrast with Tuxedo Black) after rust repairs ^





Progress on the roof lining (painted bows etc...) ^ ^




Many different bench seats over the years ^



Custom made arm rest to match the 59 Impala door trim



Repairs to some ~40 holes on the bed trim moldings (on going)



Replaced the broken/worn tailgate jewelry centerpiece (cracked top right but cheap) ^

 

[alexm900]

Then this thing turns up on flea bay in Dec 2014



The Elky is coming along nicely, albeit slowly, and some cash has been set aside for the purchase of a 348.
This listing allows me to get in touch with Mitch Akers while this 409 is being sold to a customer in New Zealand.
Mitch and I settle finally for a 348/440 stroker on the basis of the kit sold by Jack.

 

[alexm900]

Back in Feb-Apr 2015, here is the 348 engine (5011) from Jack, and after a visit to the machine shop...
with light deburring of casting marks prior to assembly.

 

[alexm900]

Early March 2015, getting parts to start the engine build...



The Eagle crank from the stroker kit, straight out of the box, but needing a lot of work
(i.e. machining, heat relieving, grinding, balancing, etc, ...) ^



Ross (or KB? sry cannot remember now) pistons, ~ weight matched ~ 650 grams ^



3x2 (assembled by Charlie Price) bought $800.- from a guy that got rid of his Impala before having a chance
to install the trick induction. He had it for many years as a mantle piece in his lounge room apparently ^

 

[Don Jacks]

That piston looks like a KB Icon to me.

 

[alexm900]

Thanks Don, it is indeed possible those are KB, Mitch changed a few things on this build because I was either being a pain in the backside or he was not happy with some of the engine components. I do remember Mitch going from Ferrea to Manley valves, from Isky to Schneider stick and from Comp to Scorpion/Crane rockers

 

[alexm900]

 

[alexm900]

Schneider cam degrees at 109º ^ (I will try to dig out the cam card)



Schneider (offset wire edm hole) lifters ^

 

[alexm900]

Just a quick note to credit all engine assembly photographs to Mitch Akers (with his permission)

 

[alexm900]

Finally found the cam card...



... and shameless plug to the great peeps at Schneider

 

[Don Jacks]

That engine is gonna fly if your heads are up to it.

 

[alexm900]

Hi-po heads would have been great (@Don), but we settled for 379 heads with mild bowl blend and Manley Race 409 valves.
Arguably 379 could be a good match to the three rejetted but unmolested deuces.

 

[Don Jacks]

Are you going to dyno this piece? It would be interesting to see what those 379's will support.Are you using 2.06 or 2.19 intake valves?

 

[alexm900]

Oil pressure test and...



...Crane + Scorpion valvetrain (with a seat pressure of 125 lbs at 1.850 and 1.860).



Drilled and tapped crank snout with ATI sbc400 balancer.

 

[alexm900]

Almost ready for the dyno...





... with Hooker SuperComps

 

[alexm900]

One of the dyno pulls (courtesy of Brett at Nutech and another shameless plug)

 

[alexm900]

Freshly re-upholstered bench seat, on the basis of a lowered (2.5") and widened (8") bottom frame.